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The Royal Society: Science in the Making

Referee's report by William Thomas Blanford, on a paper 'Mathematical contributions to the theory of evolution. XI. On the influence of natural selection on the variability and correlation of organs' by Karl Pearson

Reference number: RR/15/369

Date: 13 February 1902

Description

Sectional Committee: [Mathematics]

He has tried his best to understand the paper but so many of his terms are unfamiliar that he is not sure that he can grasp his meaning. Regarding the papers scientific merits, he is not quite sure he is in a position to form a judgement. A considerable portion of the paper is little more than a dispute about terms, and the superiority of the 'biometrician' over the mere biologist is insisted upon at considerable length. Whilst he does not question the importance of the principal question at issue, he confesses to being more than puzzled than enlightened.

[Published in Philosophical Transactions A, 1903].

Reference number
RR/15/369
Earliest possible date
13 February 1902
Physical description
Letter on paper
Page extent
4 pages
Format
Manuscript

Creator name

William Thomas Blanford

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Citation

William Thomas Blanford, Referee's report by William Thomas Blanford, on a paper 'Mathematical contributions to the theory of evolution. XI. On the influence of natural selection on the variability and correlation of organs' by Karl Pearson, 13 February 1902, RR/15/369, The Royal Society Archives, London, https://makingscience.royalsociety.org/items/rr_15_369/referees-report-by-william-thomas-blanford-on-a-paper-mathematical-contributions-to-the-theory-of-evolution-xi-on-the-influence-of-natural-selection-on-the-variability-and-correlation-of-organs-by-karl-pearson, accessed on 10 February 2025

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  • Referee Reports

    Date: 1832-1954

    This collection contains reports on scientific papers submitted for publication to the Royal Society. Started in 1832 when the system was formalised, it is a record of the origins of peer review publishing in practice.

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